Man City Hand Jesus Number Nine Jersey

By Max Wise

English Premier League champions Manchester City have handed Gabriel Jesus the vacant number nine jersey going into the 2019/2020 season.

Jesus joined Manchester City from Brazilian club Palmeiras in January 2017 for £27m and chose the number 33 shirt because Spanish forward Nolito donned his favourite number nine jersey at the time.

Nolito has since moved on, leaving the number nine jersey vacant for the past two seasons.

Jesus, who is away with Brazil at the 2019 Copa America, will now take over the number nine jersey at club level just like he does in national team colours.

The Brazil star has told the club’s official website: “It will be an honour to wear the City number nine shirt and I’ll do so with great pride.

“I hope to score many goals wearing this jersey and help City to more trophies in the coming seasons.

“It’s the number I wear with Brazil and as always, I’ll be giving everything for City when I’m wearing it.”

Gabriel Jesus has scored 45 goals in 100 appearances for Manchester City since joining the club two years ago including 21 from 46 appearances last season despite playing second fiddle to Sergio Aguero for much of the campaign.

Jesus has won two Premier League titles, one FA Cup and two League cups during his time in Manchester and will be hoping to fare better than Emmanuel Adebayor, Alvaro Negredo and Nolito who all have worn the famous jersey in the past.